Read How Nigerian Army Plans To Restore Its Damaged Reputation

The Nigerian Army has announced that the era of harassment and human right violations is over.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major General Tukur Yusuf Buratai

This Day reports that Brigadier General Nicholas Rogers, the chief of military-civil relations, disclosed this during a meeting with civil societies and stakeholders on Monday, August 31, in Yola, Adamawa state.

Rogers said that the army had adopted a new face of operations under the leadership of the new army chief of staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai.

Rogers revealed that measures were taken to address issues relating to human rights abuses. He added that the army would enhance intelligence gathering and cooperate with the civil populace with the aim of restoring the image of the Nigerian military.

“The measure was adopted by the new chief of army staff to build a new face for the Nigerian military anchored on respect for the rules of engagement and to improve the relationship between the army and civilian populace,” he said.

READ ALSO: What Tukur Buratai Personally Did To Boko Haram Militants

Speaking about the dwindling reputation of the Nigerian army following reports of human rights violations, Rogers assured Nigerians that those issues would soon become things of the past. He noted that the army under Buratai was poised to ensure that Nigerian troops operate with decorum and professionalism.

The chief of military-civil relations said that a high caliber team from his office would arrive in Yola in the next two weeks. They would visit various internally displaced persons’ camps to interact with people and commence de-radicalisation process.

According to Rogers, the army could achieve permanent peace in the northeast only by cooperating with the civil populace. Therefore, called on Nigerians to report about any uncivilized behavior by soldiers, stressing that such reports would be treated with dispatch and confidence.

“The chief of army staff is ready to deal with anybody who does not respect constituted authorities,” he added.

Rogers promised Nigerians that the military would remain in all liberated areas until peace and tranquility is finally restored.

READ ALSO: Nigerian Military Kill Scores Of Terrorists, Recover Weapons

Two weeks ago, the soldiers from the Nigeria Army School of Military Engineering (NASME)  were involved in an “ugly’ incident. Thirty-nine solders laid siege on a community in Makurdi, the Benue state capital, where they vandalised not less than 200 vehicles and stole mobile phones, TV set, radio and other personal effects belonging to the residents.

Shortly after the incident, Major General Bamidele Ogunkale, the commandant of NASME in Makurdi, apologized to Samuel Ortom, the governor of Benue state, for soldiers’ attack and stressed that perpetrators would be brought to book.

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